Special Services

Every child has the right to a free, appropriate, public education.

The Planning and Placement Team (PPT) at each school ensures that students meet the eligibility requirements of the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and state regulations. It is also through the PPT process that the district ensures that all students with disabilities aged 3 through 21 who require special education and related services, who have not graduated with a regular high school diploma, receive a free and appropriate public education. The district develops a written plan for each student requiring special education and related services. This plan is called an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is developed, implemented, maintained, reviewed, revised and evaluated for all students served by our district.

The district ensures that, to the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities are educated with students who are nondisabled. However, the district provides a continuum of programming options for students to the extent necessary in order to implement the IEP. Each student requiring special education and related services is educated in the school that he or she would attend if he or she did not require special education and related services, unless the IEP requires another placement. Students are provided an appropriate individualized program in the least restrictive environment.

Parents are valuable partners in planning, evaluating and implementing their child’s program, as well as throughout their child’s educational career. Parents are encouraged to ask questions and take part in all aspects of their child’s education.

Related Services

Speech and language services: Speech and language pathologists provide services to students who exhibit speech-language impairments that adversely affect educational performance in accordance with the IEP. Speech and language pathologists conduct individual assessments to provide information that is helpful in determining a child’s eligibility for speech and language services as special education or a related service.

School psychological services: School psychologists work collaboratively with teachers and administrators to help create safe and supportive school environments. They help teachers to understand and respond to students’ social and emotional needs, develop and monitor academic and behavioral interventions and coordinate community services, outside providers and agency involvement to prevent problems, enhance independence and promote learning. School psychologists conduct individual assessments to provide information that is helpful in determining a student’s eligibility for special education and related services and in the development of individual academic and behavioral programs that maximize the student’s achievement and educational success.

School social work services: A District-wide social worker provides consultation to schools and direct services to students and families as recommended by the student’s IEP.

Physical and occupational therapy services are contracted services provided in accordance with the student’s IEP and address delays in areas such as fine motor, gross motor, and sensory integration.

Services for Visually Impaired or Hearing Impaired students are provided in accordance with the student’s IEP, and may involve collaboration with outside agencies.

Special education transportation is provided as a related service in accordance with the student’s IEP.

Homebound instruction is provided for students who receive special education and related services when recommended by the PPT in accordance with the student’s IEP. Homebound instruction is also provided for any student for whom a physician has certified, in writing, that the student’s medical condition will cause an absence of at least three weeks’ duration. Instruction typically begins no later than two weeks from the first day of absence.

Early Childhood/Preschool Services

Ledyard’s Early Childhood special education programs are designed to provide quality preschool programming as well as special education services to 3, 4 and 5 year old children (not eligible for kindergarten) in Ledyard. Special education and related services are provided to preschool children identified by the PPT as having a disability in accordance with their IEP. The programs also enroll typically developing peers to serve as role models for preschool children with disabilities. All preschool age children who are suspected of having a disability are screened and, if necessary, evaluated to determine eligibility for special education and related services.

For more detailed information on Early Childhood, go to the preschool tab at the top of the page, and click the link to the Early Childhood webpage.

Child Find

In accordance with federal regulations, Ledyard Public Schools assumes the responsibility for the location, identification and evaluation of all children with a disability residing in Ledyard, whether or not they attend a public school.

This includes any child residing within the district who is suspected of having a disability including children who are:

Age 3-5 (Birth to three years are located and identified by the State of CT Birth-To-Three System)

Private School Attendees: Children enrolled in private or parochial schools by their parents

Transition Services

Transition services are a coordinated set of activities for a student with a disability that are designed to improve the academic and functional achievement of the student and to facilitate the student’s movement from high school to postsecondary education, vocational education, employment (including supported employment), adult services, independent living, or community participation. Transition services in Ledyard are provided, as appropriate, in accordance with the student’s IEP. For more detailed information on Transition Services, clickhere.